Anti-ragging law in the offing
Hotline – 1997, Whatsapp hotline – 076-5453454
Ragging is spreading – State Minister
National anti-ragging committee appointed
The Government is contemplating tough measures, including new legislation, to curb ragging at universities and other higher education institutes, State Minister of Higher Education Suren Raghavan said yesterday.
At the media conference held at the Government Information Department, the State Minister, who stated that ragging is spreading in universities, said that 36 complaints of ragging have been reported within the last 12 months.
He said that a National Anti-Ragging Committee has been appointed for this purpose. This committee includes a representative of the President, a representative of the Prime Minister, a representative of the Higher Education Minister, a representative of the University Grants Commission, a representative of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, a representative of the Vice-Chancellors’ Association and a representative of the Sri Lanka Police.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that two telephone numbers have been introduced to complain about the incidents of ragging. Victims of ragging can call the hotline 1997 or the Whatsapp hotline 076-5453454. SSP Thalduwa said that the newly introduced WhatsApp number can provide videos, photos, etc. related to the ragging and that as soon as the complaint is received, it will be forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and necessary investigations will take place.
He also said that the law will be applied to those who submit false information to these numbers.
Secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Priyantha Premakumara and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Legal Officer R.E. Abeynayake were also present at the media conference.
